Hotels, campgrounds riding high for Biketoberfest

Wednesday

Oct 17, 2012 at 4:14 PM

Biketoberfest has arrived and so have thousands of bikers from around the country. And, they brought their wallets.

JEFFREY CASSADYBUSINESS WRITER

DAYTONA BEACH — Biketoberfest has arrived and so have thousands of bikers from around the country. And, they brought their wallets. Some hotels and campgrounds are already booked for the event, which rolls Thursday through Sunday, and area shops and restaurants expect to do big business over the weekend, too. "We're already sold out," said Brian O'Dwyer of the 98-site Daytona/Speedway KOA campground, which he co-owns. O'Dwyer also is co-owner of two other camping areas, Racetrack RV on International Speedway Boulevard and Daytona Beach KOA on Nova Road, and he expects both to be sold out by the weekend. On Wednesday, the 350-site Daytona Beach KOA was at 90 percent capacity, O'Dwyer said.Biketoberfest attracts an estimated 100,000 motorcycle enthusiasts. And, many of those bikers are already here, O'Dwyer said. "(Business is) better than it was last year, and people are showing up early, too," O'Dwyer said. "For these bikers, (Biketoberfest is) a weeklong event, regardless of what the city (of Daytona Beach) says." Likewise, Volusia hotels expect to show improvement over last year's Biketoberfest business. "We're growing every year," said Bob Davis, president and CEO of the Hotel and Lodging Association of Volusia County. "The economy is improving, But, regardless of the economy, people need to get out of the house." Bikers began trickling into the Ramada Inn on International Speedway Boulevard earlier in the week, said Chris Fagan, the hotel's general manager. Half of the Ramada's 128 rooms were filled on Tuesday, Fagan added, and the hotel is booked for the weekend. "It's a nice little bump," Fagan said of Biketoberfest business. "Every bit helps." Business also has been good at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort on Atlantic Avenue. The 744-room hotel is booked through most of the weekend, said Jason Reader, the hotel's general manager. Rates are also up slightly, he added. Restaurants and stores also plan to be packed this weekend. "On (Biketoberfest) weekends, we get slammed," said Kandie Lewis, shift manager at the Burger King across from the Ocean Walk Shoppes on Atlantic Avenue.Lewis said the fast-food restaurant's business usually doubles during Biketoberfest, with most of the additional business coming from bikers."It's a huge weekend. It always is," said Paul Politis, president of Gator Beach & Sport, a sports apparel and gifts store next to the Burger King. "It's a big boost for everybody." Things might be hopping in Volusia County, but they've been a bit slow at Mike Patel's hotel in Flagler County. "It's a little slow compared to last year," said Patel, owner of the 58-room Topaz Motel/Hotel in Flagler Beach. The motel was about 70 percent filled on Wednesday, Patel said, adding that rainy weather might have kept bikers away.